If you’re a bowler, and that too fast, brutal, but couldn’t make it to the highest-level due to unavoidable circumstances, you’ll one way, or another envy, speedster — Mitchell Starc. He relatively makes things easier for the batsmen, but again when he is in business, he won’t let you survive, not even for a ball. Such has been the narrative of one of the world’s fastest bowlers in contemporary cricket. Well, in the ongoing ICC World Cup the left-arm speed gun has snared 24 wickets in eight matches.
The 28-year-old Australia paceman has claimed two five-wicket hauls and as many four-wicket hauls in the ODI showpiece. On June 09, at the Oval, Starc went wicketless, but he made troubled Men in Blue batters with his sheer pace.
Sublime starc keeps itSuchplain:
The leading wicket-taker Starc, who’s on the brink of eclipsing legendary Glenn McGrath. However, in a low-key affair, Starc believes his personal achievements would mean nothing for him if they as a team won’t be able to retain the ICC coveted title.
“Not much if we don’t win the World Cup,” Cricket.com.au quoted Starc, as saying.
So far, Australia is topping the World Cup standings with 14 points in eight games. With Starc on the brink of surpassing McGrath in terms of most wickets in the World Cup edition, Starc is entirely focused on a team’s overall performance.
In 2007, the wily customer McGrath bagged 26 wickets under the leadership of Ricky Ponting.
Besides, his performance, Starc has credited his teammates for delivering goods. He further praised fellow bowlers for putting up their hand to execute their plans to perfection. He is optimistic that the bowling group has come a long way by improving leaps and bounds at the international circuit.
Starc praises fellow bowlers:
Jason Behrendorff has bagged two wickets as Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Steven Smith settled for a wicket each.
“I’m just stoked to be playing a part in this group and continue to contribute. I’m really proud of the whole bowling group, the way we’ve executed the last few games. We keep improving as a group,” Starc concluded.
In the 37th match of the World Cup between Australia and New Zealand, Starc starred with the ball. He finished his figures with five for 26 in 9.4 overs. Thus, he handed an easy-peasy 86-run win to the Aussies over their Trans-Tasman rivals, Kiwis.
On Saturday (June 29), batting first Australia posted a modest target of 244 runs. However, in response, the Black Caps were strangulated at 157 in 43.4 overs.
In their last league game, Australia will lock horns with South Africa on July 6 at the Old Trafford in Manchester.